for the love of coral...

i wish i could be a blogger who had something profound to say each day, something meaningful to leave you pondering and thinking about the topic a few days later -- two blogs that inspire me daily and leave me in deep thought are The Goat and the Kid, blogged by nancy and Lucky Number 13, blogged by amy. if these two gals ever wrote self-help books, I'd be the first in line at the bookstore to buy the books! Such inspiration  - and wonderful photojournalism to boot! Check them out!

but, I'm not that kind of blogger or writer. I just like to show you my frugal finds, obsess over my redecorating habit, and occasionally share with you some enlightening moments with my children. I guess if all blogs were the same it wouldn't be that fun.

So no deep thoughts, but I have a mantel to share with you - Inspiring ? ?  ?
Thanks to those that complimented my blog header, and yes, those photos are from my mantel. I have to admit this mantel might overdo it's stay this summer because I am loving it myself!

My inspiration?

This...

 

which i "borrowed" from this gorgeous Hawaiian beach...

i had coral stuffed in shoes, in baby clothes, in my husband's shirts, in my make-up bag- wherever i could think to put it in my suitcase so that they wouldn't take it out of my luggage - it was the one and only souvenier i brought back from our trip, so i was begging "please don't take my coral!"

it all came home with me. smile.

back to the mantel...

now here's the pictures that i really enjoyed creating...

those of you that are interested in, or should i rephrase that and say, addicted to, decorating, and redecorating, do you find yourself doing this annoying habit? -- Sitting back and mentally itemizing each item in your house, recollecting where it came from and what you paid for it? I CAN'T STOP! Not that I have any time to sit back in this house with three little busy bodies to chase, but when i do actually sit and relax a bit after they've all gone to sleep, i visually move from piece to piece taking pride in how little i paid to decorate my home and how pleased i am with the outcome. here is the summer mantel i created and i'll be happy to break it down for ya -- not sure i have even $50 wrapped into this mantel....

not too shabby!

Linking to the stories of  A to Z Vignette Party

Addicted to Garage Sales...

Isn't it nice to be missed? Thank you for the sweet comments welcoming me back yesterday! Is it possible to miss your blogging friends even though you've never even met them? Yes. It is.  

It was a fabulous Saturday of GARAGE SALE-ING. A very nice area near our home here in Orange County had their community sale this weekend. We got an early start and although it was throughout their whole town, we never made it out of one particular wealthy neighborhood - It was like shopping at TJMaxx Home Goods. I went with the idea that I was only going to purchase things that had an immediate purpose and location once I brought it home - No more storing things in my horrendous garage. With that in mind, I focused on the exterior of the home. Hawaii has me rearing to go for summer!

Although I can't seem to keep a plant or flower alive for the life of me, I found this plant stand for $7

If this turquoise color ever becomes repulsively out of style - I am doomed!

And if anyone has some suggestions for plants/flowers for someone with a black thumb rather than green, pass on some advice please!

"No, I'm not getting a bird" was my response to my husband when he questioned this purchase

- Husbands just don't see the creativity in pieces all the time, right?

It is a real bird cage and I plan to doctor it up with a fake bird at some point but for the time being, I had to change the color and find a place in the front entry way.

Green - Gone.Yes to Colonial Red.

(this black chest is actually an old toolbox that I bought at a garage sale almost ten years ago.)

At an earlier sale in March, this little guy came home with me for my girls - The guy bought it at ZGallery and gave it to me for $2

as did this "thing" which I love. I don't know if I should use it as a planter or what?

any ideas? front porch, back patio?

Useful treasures. Well, at least pretty ones as I see it.

My husband might debate me on that one!

Happy Day Everyone!

welcome back to me...

Hello! Long time no bloggin'! I am hoping my readers are still around and have missed me just a wee bit. If not, I've at least missed being the author of a blog! I'm in that "needing a vacation after a vacation" mode since we just successfully survived our FIRST family vacation to Hawaii. It was GORGEOUS, and even a bit relaxing. Traveling with three kids --w o a h!!! But all in all, it was wonderful, much needed, and will be probably our most memorable trip with it being our first family trip.

So, with suitcases unpacked and laundry all washed, I am back to the real world of momhood. Cooking for my cooking group (which I just succeeded in convincing my husband to chop up the onions for me as I think my eyeballs truly did fall out while attempting to chop them myself,) working on getting Izzy to sleep in her crib rather than my arms as she has for the past year, and painting both the kitchen and girls' bedroom, I am back to tackling the TO DO list.
                            -- back to the onions but wanted to say  I AM STILL HERE!

On our way once again...

My long lost friend - MY BLOG! I've been a bit preoccupied with leaving my parents house in Illinois, coming back to California, unpacking and tackling laundry, only to repack again as we leave tomorrow for HAWAII! So in the four days that we have been home, I haven't spent much time with friends, rather I've been hanging out in my bathroom with these friends:

I've always been the sun goddess in the past, roasting myself to the perfect color of brown, but in the last few years, being a mother of little ones who will want me around for their lives, I've decided to trade in the sun for these little tubes of fake n' bake. I am getting used to the coppery metal smell and have collected 5 or 6 different brands to discover the perfect one without the smell, but it's a trial and error process. But a bit of copper smell on me is worth the trade in for this pasty white self of mine!

so Aloha, Adios, Hula - whatever the word - I am outta here and we are on our way bright and early Monday morning! I am overdue for some R n' R! I'll "talk" to you when we return in ten days!

Time To Say Goodbye..or Just See You Later...

It's our last day in Decatur, Illinois. We are headed back to California tomorrow. The girls are always sad when this arrives and asked this morning "why can't we stay for 20 more weeks?" well, girls that would most likely make your  Nana a bit loony. It was a visit that was much longer than we had originally planned but so worth every minute that we spent here.

I will even miss the scenery.

Wishing I could load up one of these barns and plant it in my backyard.

Guess I'd be called the loony one then.